Abstract

Class II MHC antigens appear in a variety of previously negative cell types during immune reactions in vivo and may decisively contribute to antigen presentation and target cell destruction. In cell culture systems gamma interferon was identified as one of the most potent mediators inducing class II antigen expression (1). In vivo effects of gamma interferon on MHC antigen distribution have been described but have not been analyzed exhaustively (2,3). Detailed dose-response studies in experimental animals are lacking. We have thus investigated the class II MHC antigen inducing capacity of different amounts of recombinant rat gamma interferon in lymphatic and non-lymphatic organs after prolonged intravenous infusion.